The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1887-03-11

branch Office at Turin, and offer young
Mathers a subordinate post in it.
Nothing definite, however, had been
fixed, when n day Tommy, finding
Maria Marsoni alone when he called at
the villa, lost his head completely, and
was making love as we'll as his imPer-
feet knowledge of Italian permitted,
when the Count, suddenly coming in,
caught him in the act of kissing his
daughters hand.
Maria fled like a hare disturbed on her
form, and the Count advanced with a
heavy frown on his aristocratjc brow.
More as a matter of form than any
thing else, for he knew his case was
hopeless, MatherS formally asked the
hand of signOrina in marriage, laying
the blame of his irregular declaration
on the strength OF his passion and his
ignorance of Italian etiquette.
The Count heard him to the end, and
then surveyed him from head to foot
with a look Of contempt.
1T is a piece of gross presumption
in you-a mere clerk, a nobody-to adj
dress my daughter" said the Count at
last in English, with his chin in the air,
"Of course" said Tommy, bitterly,
stung by the Counts look. IF I were
partner of H~odgson'S, though, you
would give me a different answer
IF you were a partner in Messrs.
Hodgson, Dunford & PARIS" said the
Count, with an altered expression,
that would make a difference of
course; but as l do not understand that
you have any prospect of entering that
firm, l do not see how that affects you."
Tommy sighed, and made his escape
rs soon as possible. He knew that
he might as well ask for the Lord
Chan cellorship as ask for a partnership
in the bank.
For two days he remained in a state
of collapse and then received advices
from London informing him of the de-
cision to which the firm had come with
respect to the new branch. A few
months before Mathers would have
been transported with delight at the
proposal which the firm made to him;
but now he considered that he was get
ting barely his due, and, besides, he
was so badly cut with respect to the
beautiful Maria that mere commercial
matters did hot possess their usual in
terest for him.
Suddenly. as he sat with the open
letter bearing the well known signature
before him, Tommy conceived an idea.
Without a moments delay he called
for his bill at the hotel, sent a waiter
for a cab, and took the first train north
ward. He arrived at Victoria early in
the morning, went to a hotel, washed
and dressed himself, and, purposely
delaying until the partners should
have reached the office in St. Swithin'
lane, he presented himself before his
employers as they were engaged in
discussing the mornings letters.
Hello, sir!" cried Mr.. Hodgson, as
he c2cght sight of the young. man.
''What are you doing hereP Anything
wrongP"
Nothing is wrong that l know of,
said the young man coolly.
Then why are you here without
leaveP" asked the junior partner.
Didn't you get our letter informing
you of our new arrangements?"
Il did, Mr.. Parr. 1t is in conse-
quence of that letter that / am here"
This was said with considerable
gravity, and Tommy helped himself to
a chair as he spoke. II am afraid,
SIR he continued, that / can not ac-
cept the situation you were good
enough to offer me at Turin"
Don't, them burst out old Mr..
Hogdson. in great wrath at the tone
which the young man was assuming.
We'll find fifty clerks ready to Jump
at it-500 for that matter"
you forget, sir" said Tommy, re-
s~pectfully but firmly, that ! have been
at Turin for some time. / know the
business there; and what | came here
to propose was that should have a
small share in the firm
Mr.. Parr stared and CIRCULATED,
"What,sir."
Mr.. Dunford laughed aloud and then
swofe.
Mr.. Hodgson choked and gasped for
breath. IT, shell had burst in the
it could not have occasioned more
e,..rr;Sn thar Tox7r,vfg rao5ase m